Alloy.



CHARLES P. VAN GUNDY, OB CATONSVILLE, MARYLAND.

ALII'OY.

No Drawing.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed December a, 1913. Serial No. 805,888.

Patented May 26, 1914.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES P. VAN GUNDY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Catonsville, in the county of Baltimore and State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Alloys; and I do hereby declare the follow.- ing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable othersskilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to the production of an alloy containing as principal and characteristic constituents aluminum, zinc and lead, and which, while adapted for general use where light, strong castings are required, is especially adapted for use where subjected to high temperatures, as, for instance, in the case of packing rings for pistons of locomotives using, superheated-steam.

Experience has proved that while piston packings formed from a lead and antimony alloy or from a lead, tin and antimony alloy are effective in the cylinders of locomotives using saturated steam, a packing adapted to stand much higher temperatures is rcquired where superheated steam is used. Thus, the melting point of the alloy of lead and antimony (containing 87 lead and 13% antimony) commonly used for piston packing rings for locomotives is but 442 degrees Fahrenheit, while the temperature of the superheated steam often exceeds 600 degrees Fahrenheit.

To meet the requirements above noted I have devised an alloy containing aluminum, zinc and lead in certain proportions, which may be combined with a strengthening metallic constituent such as copper or nickel or a combination of copper and nickel; but while the copper may be replaced in Whole or in part by nickel the latter is more expensive and there is no substantial advantage in so doing. It is, therefore, to be understood that where'copper is mentioned in the claims as one of the constituent elements of this alloy, such claims are to be regarded as expressly embracing nickel as an equivalent element which may be used in substitution for the whole or a portion of the copper, these two elements being exemplifications of strengthening metallic constituents which are excellently suited for combination with aluminum, zinc and lead. I will now proceed to describe my invent1on so that others skilled in the art to which it appertains may produce the alloy.

In carrying out my invention I melt the aluminum, zinc and strengthening element (copper or nickel or copper and nickel) in a suitable receptacle in a reducing atmosphere and add the lead thereto after the removal of the -molten mass from the fire. Should the conditions require it, as may be the case where the metals used are high in oxids, a deoxidizing agent such as magnes1um or boron-copper may be added to the molten mass. If charcoal has been used to exclude air from the molten mass, it should be carefully removed before pourmg. To obtain the best results the molten mass should be thoroughly stirred, poured at the lowest possible temperature, and preferably cast in iron molds.

An alloy having the characteristics of lightness, strength and a high melting point may be obtained by combining the constituent elements in the following proportions: aluminum 85% to 87%, zinc 9% to 11%, lead 2% to 4%, copper (or nickel) 1% to 3%. The percentages of the several elements which Ihave found most eificient and economical are, however, the following: aluminum 86.5%, zinc 9.7 lead 2.5%, copper 1.3%.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: a

1. An alloy composed of from 85% to 87 of aluminum, from 9% to 11% of zinc, from 2% to 4% of lead, and from 1% to 3% of a strengthenin element.

2. An a1 0y composed of aluminum 8%5%; zinc 9.7%; lead 2.5%; and copper 1. 0.

3. An alloy composed of aluminum, zinc, lead and copper.

4. An alloy containing less than 87% aluminum, less than 11% zinc and less than in the presence of two subscribing Wit- 4% lead. messes.

5. An alloy containing aluminum zinc T and lead wherein the percentage of alumi- 1 CHARLES JAN GUNDY' 5 num exceeds both that of the zinc and that itnesses:

of the lead. C. T. ROMMEL,

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature, "W. M. STEDMAN. 

